Written Answers - Hospital Services Tuesday, 19 April 2011

Dáil Éireann Debate Vol. 730 No. 3 Page of 273

  349.  Deputy Billy Kelleher      asked the Minister for Health and Children      if he will confirm that 34 beds dedicated to cystic fibrosis patients only as recommended by international experts will now not be provided for at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin. [8641/11]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy James Reilly):    The development of the new 100 bed Unit being built at St. Vincent’s Hospital encompasses both in-patient and day care facili[582]ties for patients with Cystic Fibrosis. It represents a major improvement in the care of Cystic Fibrosis patients in Ireland. It is essential that all in-patients are cared for by multidisciplinary teams with special training in Cystic Fibrosis in single en suite rooms.

It is Department of Health policy that there must be sufficient in-patient beds to treat all people with Cystic Fibrosis who require hospitalisation. The number of Cystic Fibrosis in-patients at St. Vincent’s University Hospital is expected to vary between 20 and 34. In this respect 20 in-patient beds is a minimum and not a maximum, and the number of beds with appropriately trained staff can potentially accommodate 34 patients. When the beds are not required for Cystic Fibrosis patients they will be used for other patients with a clearly agreed protocol that there will always be beds available for patients with Cystic Fibrosis who require admission.

Question No. 350 answered with Question No. 293.

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Last Updated: 08/03/2013 22:55:00

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